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RPGuide

Table-top gaming advice, how-to, and more from the RPGuides, Aron Christensen & Erica Lindquist. Updates when we have something to talk about.

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Aron Christensen in RPGuide

Dec 16, 2020

Image: A striking photograph of lightning in a thunderstorm.

That… did not go as planned

Every Storyteller has that moment when you unveil a plot twist, spring a surprise, or introduce a new NPC and…

Aron Christensen in RPGuide

Sep 28, 2020

Image: A photo of a monkey on a stool, playing a guitar and smoking.

Careful with the kooky

In my current game, Five Dragon Trap, I have an NPC of the kind I don’t use a lot — he’s wacky. Kooky NPCs often slide…

Aron Christensen in RPGuide

Sep 14, 2020

Image: A hooded figure sitting on broken stairs, a half dozen glowing aqua butterflies fluttering out of their hand.

7 things to think about when making NPCs

In almost any RPG campaign, you’ll have a single group of players and then a vast world…

Aron Christensen in RPGuide

Sep 7, 2020

Image: Girl holding an umbrella that is dissolving into embers.

Knocking NPCs down a notch

Any game’s NPCs (non-player characters) are a vital resource. They are the antagonists and the allies to the…

Aron Christensen in RPGuide

Aug 9, 2020

Image: Figure on a rooftop, enjoying themselves fishing while tentacles menace them from behind.

Quirky NPCs

After letting myself slide and screwing up my pacing last session — always listen to your own advice — I got things back on track this…

Aron Christensen in RPGuide

May 21, 2020

Image: An uprooted tree floating through the sky against a ring of light and rainbow-lit clouds.

De-Flanderizing an NPC

Erica’s written about one-note characters, the Ned Flanders of role-playing games. While we were discussing her post…

Aron Christensen in RPGuide

Apr 13, 2020

Image: A wizard holding a glowing staff and orb, a roaring dragon behind them.

Anatomy of a guide NPC

We’ve written about the importance of NPCs in role-playing games a lot. They serve as a barometer for the players, they…

Aron Christensen in RPGuide

Dec 19, 2019

Image: An old car deep in the woods, covered in moss and leaves.

The best NPCs suck

When I ask my players what they liked about one of my games, their first response is almost always the NPCs. I freely admit…

Aron Christensen in RPGuide

Mar 9, 2019

Image: A photo of a life-preserver that says FOR PLAY.

Last-minute NPC saves

Sometimes a player gets their characters into a bad situation, or the dice are just being little assholes. And sometimes…

Aron Christensen in RPGuide

Mar 6, 2019

Image: A drawing of a hooded figure walking across a catwalk under the moon.

Putting the fear of death into your players

Like any story, role-playing games are ultimately all about conflict. Epic wars…